Te Runanga o Ngati Whare Iwi Trust

Ngati Whare iwi established the common law trust Te Runanga o Ngati Whare Iwi Trust in 1999 to be the representative body of the iwi.

Te Runanga o Ngati Whare Iwi Trust currently holds the mandate of Ngati Whare to negotiate on behalf of the iwi with the Crown to resolve Ngati Whare's historical Treaty grievances.

Te Runanga o Ngati Whare Iwi Trust is governed by a Trust Deed, which is available here.

There are presently 7 elected Trustees on Te Runanga o Ngati Whare Iwi Trust: James Carlson (Chairperson), Lena Brew, Bronco Carson, Kohiti Kohiti, Robert McMahon, Pene Olsen and Roberta Rickard. Positions are held for two years, with half the Trustees being put up for election at a Hui-a-Iwi (General Meeting) every year. The General Meeting of the Runanga tends to be held any time from mid year to the latter part of the year.

It should be noted that the present Trust deed is in need of a significant overhaul in order to become a "Mandated Iwi Authority" for Fisheries purposes, and to be an effectively structured post-Treaty settlement entity for Ngati Whare. These amendments are currently being worked on and will be advertised and debated appropriately through 2008 and potentially early 2009.

In order to facilitate iwi participation, the Runanga endeavours to distribute regular Panui to update the iwi on various matters, which are available here.  Otherwise, all major decisions are reached through publicly advertised hui-a-iwi. This "face to face" process of decision making is likely to evolve with the creation of a Ngati Whare "Post Settlement Entity", and include a system of postal ballots as well as regular meetings.

It is possible for persons of Ngati Whare descent to "register" as beneficiaries of Te Runanga o Ngati Whare Iwi Trust. Go here for registrations.